(Christine's turn, though it might be short.)

I walked into the office and went to sit in Nellie's chair, looking across the table to where my companion sat. "You can take off the cloak now Mrs. Moony. The mask too. I know it's you... I saw him."

My former friend frowned but did as she was asked, though I noticed she hesitated to take off her mask and stopped her. "No. Christine I don't-"

I smiled. "Don't bother with it. I learned the hard way that some people where a mask for a reason."

She smiled, content to watch me for a moment. "You really are a sweet girl Christine. How's life with Raoul?"

I smiled brightly. "It's great. We have a child, and I... oh I couldn't be happier! But now, no changing subjects like that. Nellie told me what you did to her at the performance. How could you? I gave you a place to stay... opened my heart and got Raoul to have you brought here for me.. and you just... you betrayed me in the worst way possible."

She stepped back a little, clearly frightened. I had never treated her like this before, but after what Nellie had told me-how Mrs. Moony had used the Punjab Lasso against her, probably with Erik's assistance and careful instruction-I had become furious. For five years, I had wanted to confront her about it, and here she was. "Christine... Christine I did it for you. So you could sing the words he wrote for you. Not for her! For you Christine!"

I scowled. "You do a lot of bad things for me don't you? Do you ever think about how I feel? Or am I just someone you can use? You know what? Don't answer. I don't want to know. But I won't be singing for you, so you'd just as well go back to London or wherever you've been hiding."

She laughed. "I haven't been in London. I've been safely away from that place this whole time."

I frowned, opening my mouth to speak though we were interrupted by a knock at the door. "Who...? Nellie wouldn't knock, and Raoul would probably just enter. I don't think we dare open it.